IMD forecasts thunderstorms, gusty winds in south Bengal on Saturday

According to the IMD, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds with speeds reaching 50-60 kmph are likely in Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, Purba Bardhaman and Paschim Bardhaman districts.

The IMD has forecast thunderstorms and gusty winds at one or two places across all districts of south Bengal on Saturday, the day the first BJP government in West Bengal is scheduled to be sworn in at the Brigade Parade Grounds here in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Owing to a favourable wind pattern and strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal, rain and thundershowers are likely to occur across all districts till May 14, the IMD said on Friday. The Met office forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers in Kolkata on Saturday. According to the IMD, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds with speeds reaching 50-60 kmph are likely in Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, Purba Bardhaman and Paschim Bardhaman districts. In the remaining districts, wind speeds are likely to range between 40 and 50 kmph. Heavy rain is likely in the sub-Himalayan districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar on May 13 and 14, it said. It said Kolkata recorded 49 mm of rain in the last 24 hours, the highest in the state. Asansol (18.4 mm), Uluberia (14.6), Dum Dum (13.5) and Bardhaman (13.2) were the other places that recorded significant amounts of rainfall, according to IMD data.